Cowgirl basketball opens at Denver

by UW Athletics Media Relations

The Cowgirl basketball team will open up the 2009-10 regular season with one game on the road and another at home this weekend.

Wyoming faces the Denver Pioneers Friday in Denver at 5:30 p.m. before hosting the Montana Lady Griz Sunday at 2 p.m. Live stats can be followed on www.wyomingathletics.com.

Wyoming went 2-0 during the exhibition season with a 72-36 victory over the Adams State Grizzlies and a 76-53 win over CSU-Pueblo. Aubrey Vandiver led the way with 14 points and six rebounds in the first game, while Emma Langford tallied a team high 19 points against the ThunderWolves.

This is the season opener for the Pioneers as well, who went 1-0 in exhibition play with an 82-54 win over Regis. They return three starters and six letterwinners to a team that went 16-15 overall and 10-8 in the SunBelt Conference a year ago. This is the 17th meeting between the two schools. Wyoming leads the series 13-3. The last time the two teams met was November 14, 2008 as the Cowgirls downed the Pioneers, 61-54, in Denver. Denver is coached by Erik Johnson who is in his second season with the program.

Montana went 1-0 in exhibition play and will take on Colorado State before playing the Cowgirls. The Lady Griz return two starters and eight letterwinners to a team that went 28-5 overall and 15-1 in the Big Sky Conference a year ago. This is the 34th meeting between the two teams. Montana leads the series 26-7. The last time the two teams met was Nov. 16, 2008, as the Lady Griz defeated the Cowgirls 71-64 in Missoula. Montana is coached by Robin Selvig who is in his 32nd season with the program.

Cowgirls pull away for win over CSU-Pueblo

Richard Anderson photos
At left, Wyoming sophomore Emma Langford drives on a Colorado State-Pueblo player Friday night in an exhibition at the Arena-Auditorium. At bottom, junior Jade Kennedy takes the ball to the basket. Langford finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Kennedy added 16 points and nine rebounds in the Cowgirls 76-53 win.

UW-CSU Pueblo box

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

The bad news earlier on Friday came when Wyoming women’s basketball coach Joe Legerski learned that sophomore forward Ashley Sickles would be lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.

The potential good news later that night came when the Cowgirls beat Colorado State-Pueblo 76-53 in an exhibition, with junior Jade Kennedy and sophomore Emma Langford more than picking up the slack.

“Just with one less big now, it allows everyone else to step up and I think Jade and all of the other bigs did a good job of that tonight,” Langford said.

Sickles played in 18 games during her freshman campaign and averaged 1.9 points and one rebound in 7.9 minutes per game, but was expected to contribute in the rotation this season and had a strong preseason camp. She was injured late in Monday’s exhibition win over Adams State.

Kennedy picked it up on Friday, scoring 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting, grabbing nine rebounds. Langford, who had an up and down freshman campaign offensively last season, led all scorers with 19 points, along with eight rebounds.

“It’s very difficult losing Ashley Sickles,” Legerski said. “At 6-foot-2 with perimeter skills, who can shoot the basketball and has great length, she gives us somebody who can go in and play at the four at times and guard a five. Losing her for the season now creates a situation where somebody else has to step up and maybe get more minutes, and I thought Jade did that tonight and really played well.”

Kennedy averaged 4.0 points and 4.9 rebounds a game last season off of the bench, had just three points and five rebounds against Adams State on Monday.

Those dreaded first-game nerves are over now and Kennedy said she felt much better offensively on Friday.

“The last game it was a bit nervous because it was the first game, I guess I just relaxed and it just came,” Kennedy said.

Langford, who struggled offensively with her bad back in the second half of last season and was just 1 of 10 shooting on Monday, looked more like the player who showed an offensive spark early in her career.

“It was good to get that first game under our belt and the second game was a lot more relaxing and it was good to get to ourselves and get to our offense,” Langford said.

The Cowgirls started slow on Friday, trailing 8-1 and only leading by four at halftime. Still up by only three, Wyoming shifted into second gear defensively, blanking the Division II Thunderwolves for nearly 10 minutes and scoring 22 unanswered points to run away.

“We needed to pick it on defense in the second half and we did that,” Langford said. “We didn’t want them to get as many open shots … they were shooting well from the 3-point line which made it hard for us to keep extending that lead. In the second half, we were more focused on the 3-point shooters and not let them shoot it as much. We picked it up on defense and the offense came together.”

Legerski said that offensively, Friday wasn’t as smooth as Monday, but he thought CSU-Pueblo had a little to do with that as their zone and trapping created some problems for them. He said that once Wyoming started moving the basketball and attacking the spots, it opened up for them.

“Really, I was very pleased with how we played defensively. We only gave up 12 points in the second half to the four minute mark, which is a tremendous effort,” he said. “Even though sometimes we weren’t playing as well on the offensive side, defensively we were solid especially in the second half.

The Cowgirls open the regular season next Friday in Denver against the Denver Pioneers.

Vandiver enjoys her return

UW photo/Junior Aubrey Vandiver scored 14 points against Adams State Monday night.

Wyoming-Adams State boxscore

by Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

The toughest part for Aubrey Vandiver on Monday were the hours leading to the Cowgirls exhibition opener against Adams State.

The game, as usual, is somewhat of a breeze for the talented Laramie athlete.

Vandiver, in her first game since the 2007 NCAA tournament against Pittsburgh, scored 14 points and played 28 minutes in leading Wyoming to an easy 72-36 victory in the Arena-Auditorium.

"The first minutes were a lot more relaxing than the minutes before that going up to the game, I was really nervous," Vandiver said. "Once I got out there, it was an amazing feeling to be back out on the court playing with my teammates and having the support of the fans."

Vandiver, a third-team all-conference performer her sophomore season, sat out last year with a bad case of mononucleosis.

Wyoming head coach Joe Legerski said that he wanted to make sure that Vandiver got some quality court time Monday night because she had been so inactive while battling the illness.

"She needs to get as many minutes as possible and we were able to do that," Legerski said.

Despite the long layoff, if there was a little rust, it didn't really look like it as Vandiver hit a pair of 3-pointers early as the Cowgirls ran out to a 10-0 lead.

"That got my confidence going and it made me feel like I hadn't missed a year," Vandiver said.

One of the more athletic and physical players in the Mountain West Conference, Vandiver also mixed it up down low, which brought not only a sweet to her forehead, but a smile on her face.

"I like the physical aspect and it was nice to get some tough rebounds. It was a great feeling," she said. "I think our team overall was physical."

It's been an eventful preseason for Vandiver, who has shown bits of rust and picking up where she left off her sophomore season.

"There are something that after playing for two years that I understand, but I am just trying to get back into the rhythm and getting used to playing with Hill (Hillary Carlson), Emma (Langford) and Kristen (Scheffler)."

Up until this season, the last time Vandiver stepped out on the court, she was a sophomore on a senior-laden team. Her role has changed dramatically, on and off the court.

"I think I'm ready for it and I am comfortable with it," she said. "Even through we had the seniors then, I feel like there were times I had to step up. Even though we don't have any seniors on this team, there are people who can step up, so I don't feel like I necessarily have to take it on myself. If I need to be counted upon, I feel like I can step up and help out."

Legerski liked the composure that Vandiver showed, even in a preseason game.

"At times I think that is what a young group needs. We needed it last season," Legerski said. "We got out there and all of the sudden, she knocks down two 3s and gets us off to a great start. Aubrey is probably the hardest worker that we have. She is always in the gym getting some extra shooting. It is just nice to have her back out on the floor. When you look at her numbers: 14 points, six rebounds, four steals. That's a great night for 28 minutes."

While sitting out last year was tough on Vandiver, she said there were some benefits: her teammates got more experience and she was able to see the game at a different angle.

"When you are playing, you see how the motion works as a player and when you see it as an observer, you see some of the things that you can take advantage of," Vandiver said. "Defensively, you can see how other things work."

Cowgirl basketball ready to go

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

Cowgirls basketball coach Joe Legerski is having a hard time believing the season is just about ready to begin.

It’s not like he is a rookie, he is beginning his seventh year at the helm. But Monday night’s exhibition opener against Adams State (7 p.m., Arena-Auditorium), like any opener, always seems to have a way to sneak up on a coach, albeit not so much for the players.

Legerski said that after about two weeks of practice, the team has progressed fairly well.

“Some of the veterans, when you look at Hillary (Carlson), Emma (Langford) and Aubrey (Vandiver), they have really picked up the pace and demonstrated that they are going to be the leaders for this program, and for this team,” Legerski said. “So, we are excited to get out and have a contest.”

With the return of Vandiver, who sat out last season with mononucleosis, Legerski has a few more lineup options than in the past.

“Aubrey is going to allow us to play her at the one and at the three,” Legerski said. “Because of that, I think you’re going to see some different combinations on the floor. You’ll get a chance to see (freshman) Rebecca Campigli at the point guard position, (sophomore) Kristen Scheffler at the two guard and Aubrey at the three. That is something that will be different for our fans to see. (Junior) Randi Richardson will have the opportunity to play the one and two as well.

“The one thing that is nice is our bigs are interchangeable, they can play the four or the five. I have quit a few combinations that we will see what works best for Wyoming in early November.”

As could be expected, the exhibition season is all about Wyoming and not about the opponent. It is also all about getting some court time for all of the players, especially the younger athletes.
The Cowgirls will play their second exhibition game of the week on Friday when they host CSU-Pueblo.

“We try to separate them to simulate a little about how the season is played out,” Legerski said. “You usually play a couple of games a week, if not three. So, we wanted to make sure we had some practice time between exhibition games, and more importantly that they were not 10 days apart. You want to come right back and get another game in before you get started for real.”

Legerski said the players would rather play games than practice, but as coaches, they would rather practice every day. By doing that, he said they see the glaring weaknesses that they have and how much work they need.”

“There are times you really realize how young we are, even in some of the scrimmages we’ve had and the mistakes, based upon inexperience,” he said. “With five people on the floor, and going as deep as eight or nine players, we run into a bit of inexperience factor that shows its ugly head at the wrong times in scrimmages, and that’s something we need to correct.”

Legerski expects all but sophomore Leah Fitzgerald to play on Monday. Fitzgerald suffered a concussion early in the preseason and hasn’t practiced for a while.

“Leah is just getting back to practicing with us, but we will hold her out on Monday just from a safety standpoint and conditioning from being able to be on the floor and practice with the team,“ he said. “With it being early in the season, we don’t need to rush anything.”

Cowgirls to begin practice on Saturday

Seventh year head coach Joe Legerski and the University of Wyoming Cowgirl basketball team will practice for the first time Saturday at 9 a.m., in the Arena Auditorium. Practice is open to the public.

Legerski returns three starters and nine letterwinners from last season’s squad, including Second Team All-MWC selection Hillary Carlson, Sixth Player of the Year honoree Emma Langford, plus Kristen Scheffler and Aubrey Vandiver. Wyoming was recently picked fifth in the MWC Pre-Season Poll.

The Cowgirls will continue on Sunday at the same time while Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the following week practice will be from 1:30-4 p.m.

Wyoming will play two exhibition games on Nov. 2 and Nov. 6 before opening the regular season against the Denver Pioneers on Nov. 13, in Denver. Their home opener will be on Nov. 15 against the Montana Lady Griz. Wyoming will begin MWC play on the road Jan. 5 against the Colorado State Rams in a televised game on The Mountain Sports Network. Their first home conference game will be on Jan. 13, against the TCU Lady Frogs. In all, the Cowgirls will be featured four times on The Mtn. Sports Network.

Wyoming will hold their annual media day next Tuesday in the Arena Auditorium beginning at 1 p.m. Cowgirl players and coaches will be available.

Less of a transition expected for Cowgirls

Wyoming coach Joe Legerski

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

The Wyoming Cowgirls turned a difficult transition into another successful basketball season. Knock on wood, this year’s transition looks to be much easier.

Last season, Wyoming head coach Joe Legerski began without some of the top players in the program history due to graduation. Then he lost who was expected to be the team leader – sophomore Aubrey Vandiver – because of illness.

Yet, despite a slow start, the Cowgirls finished 8-8 in Mountain West Conference play and 16-14 overall.

To say the least, last season was a big challenge for Legerski and the Cowgirls.

“You talk about the group we ended up losing, with Hanna Zavecz, Justyna Podziemska, Jodi Bolerjack and Dominique Sisk,” said Legerski on The Mtn.’s live streaming Wednesday as part of the MWC Basketball Media Days in Denver. “That was a tremendous blow to our program, but everybody goes through graduation. What you don’t count on is having an Aubrey Vandiver not being able to participate.

“I thought that was a bigger challenge because Aubrey was our leader, she was third team all conference as a sophomore. She was going to be the stability needed to make the transition. When I take a look at it now, it was a very satisfying year with a winning season… our fifth consecutive winning season for Wyoming. I’m proud of that and I’m proud of what the players on last year’s team were able to accomplish.”

With that said, the Cowgirls also had to overcome a slow start in league play, losing their first four contests. Several adjustments and just the maturation of a very young team turned things around.

“The Mountain West Conference is an extremely difficult conference to play in. We started 0-4 and that was a shock to our fan base. They were used to seeing us win and win at a very high level,” Legerski said. “We made some adjustments as a team. We started playing a little more zone, which you do not see from a Wyoming team very often. We started finding some victories down the line and were playing pretty well down the stretch. We had a .500 record within the league.”

Look for more adjustments this season, and yes, more zone defense.

“I think you’re going to see a little more from Wyoming in terms of a zone,” Legerski added. “I was happy with the way we were able to play it. You’re going to be able to see some different looks from this Wyoming team. Once again, it still comes down to playing the basics and we’ll get back to some of that.”

This season, Legerski has three starters returning, not including a healthy Vandiver, 10 letterwinners and another talented newcomer class. That has Legerski, always an optimist, excited about the possibilities this season.

“We’ve gained a great deal of experience. Kristen Scheffler and Emma Langford were two freshmen who we threw in the mix, maybe when they weren’t ready at times. We’re anxious for them to be able to participate and how they are going to play,” he said. “Then you take a look at having Aubrey back, and then in the post, having (junior) Hilary Carlson, a second-team all-conference player. She played extremely well for us and she gives us an inside presence. We are excited about what this season holds. We’re still young. We’re going to start two juniors, possibly three juniors, a couple sophomores and look out, we might have a freshman or two who see the court.”

Beginning his seventh year at the helm, Legerski has never had any problem playing freshmen. That won’t be any different this season with three promising talents in this year’s fold.

“We have Rebecca Campigli, who is a true point guard who we expect great things. Chaundra Sewell comes here from Broomfield, Colo. All Chaundra does is win. I think her high school record was 106-4 with three state championships. You put yourself around winners and they continue to win," he said. "Sara Wilson, from Nebraska, shoots the ball very well. I’m excited about this freshmen group.”

That excitement will turn into reality when the Cowgirls hit the courts officially for the first time on Oct. 16.

Aztecs voted first; Cowgirls fifth

DENVER, Colo. - As expected, San Diego State was the easy choice in the Mountain West Conference coaches and media poll released on Wednesday. Wyoming was tabbed fifth in the preseason voting.

The Aztecs, after sharing the 2008-09 MWC regular-season title and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, received 25 first-place votes and 240 total points. TCU collected three first-place votes and finished second with 216 points, followed by Utah with 185 points. New Mexico (168 points) placed fourth, followed by Wyoming (121 points), BYU (109 points), UNLV (97 points), Colorado State (57 points) and Air Force (31 points).

Last year's all-MWC first-team member, San Diego State senior guard Jené Morris, earned Preseason Player of the Year honors, while teammate Jessika Bradley was named Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Utah's Taryn Wicijowski was tabbed Preseason Freshman of the Year.

Four of the nine MWC teams were represented on the all-conference team, including three seniors and two juniors. Morris is a two-time all-MWC selection and earned WBCA State Farm Honorable Mention All-American accolades last season. She is joined on the preseason all-MWC team by teammate Paris Johnson, New Mexico's Amy Beggin, TCU's Helena Sverrisdottir and Utah's Kalee Whipple.